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MetsWalkoffs is Calling from Somewhere

"Yes, hello...Thank you for taking my call. I want to answer Ron Darling's question about the biggest complete-game shutout in Mets history."

"Thanks, Gary...You guys actually had the answer. It was that 14-0 win over the Cubs on July 29, 1965. Of the 306 complete game shutouts (as opposed to team shutouts) in Mets history, that's the biggest one."

"Yep...the pitcher was a guy you'll remember, probably more as a pitching coach. Galen Cisco."

"Yeah, Keith, that's right. He was pretty good that day. He threw a four-hitter against a lineup that featured Billy Williams, Ernie Banks, and Ron Santo."

"Yeah Ron, not too shabby. He had a good day with the bat too. You'd have been envious. Two hits, three runs scored and an RBI."

"Good question, Gary. They left him in because this was their second doubleheader against the Cubs in as many days at Wrigley Field. And the day before, they ran through their bullpen. They started a kid named Tug McGraw..."

"Yes, Ya gotta believe he pitched badly that day. Badly is an adverb, Keith."

"Grammar's not your strong suit. I know. Two-thirds of an inning from the Tugger.. So Cisco needed to pitch well the next day...and he did. Back then, if a guy was pitching well, they actually ignored his pitch count and just let him throw. Crazy, I know. And, oh by the way, Johnny Lewis had a big day- four hits and two home runs in Game 1. Three more hits in Game 2."

"Yeah, Game 2 is another story for another time. Poor Dennis Musgraves. Rookie pitched well. Seven innings, one run. Fifth and last big league appearance They lost Game 2. Walk-off loss. Game 2...walk-off loss. Hey...that sounds familiar."

"Yeah, by the way, can I get your take on one other thing? Got to see Donnie Walsh for the first time in a long time in his press conference. I'm a little worried. The bags under his eyes made me worry that he'll be dead by the time the Knicks get under the salary cap..."

"Oh, didn't realize this was a baseball game, not a talk show. Have a good night guys."

Say Hey, Shea...To answer Ron's question, solely from a Shea Stadium perspective: The biggest complete game shutout in Shea Stadium history was thrown by Jon Matlack, a 13-0 win against the Cardinals on July 1, 1976. Keith Hernandez probably won't remember that he appeared in that game as a pinch-hitter (the Cardinals were trailing 10-0 and Keith's groundout dropped his season batting average to .202).

Matlack, backed by grand slam from John Milner, pitched a five-hit shutout in blanking the Cardinals, the Mets seventh straight victory.

That stood, for 31 years, as the only 13-0 home shutout in Mets history (regardless of complete-gameness). The 2007 Mets actually tied that mark with their final win of the season. Remember the final score of John Maine's near-no hitter last September 29th? That was also, 13-0.

Say Hey, Shea will serve as a means of paying tribute to Shea Stadium all season long.

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